‘I am Better Than Him’

The moment you walk out of the mosque, and you see a group of teenagers smoking while having a chit-chat at the restaurant, and you think you’re better than them because you have just prayed;

If you’re wearing hijab, and you think you’re better than the free hair girls;

If you have memorized the whole Quran, and you feel you’re better than the Imam at the masjid who just recited Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad while leading the prayer;

If you’re a really confident person and you feel you’re much better than your introvert friend;

If you’re working at a corporate, and you feel you’re much better than your cousin who works at the supermarket;

And the list goes on…

Then you should reflect on these verses:

Surah Al-A’raf [7: 12] : (Allah) said, “What prevented you (O Iblis) from bowing down as I commanded you?” and he said, “I am better than him: You created me from fire and him from clay.”

Surah Sad [38: 75- 76] : (Allah) said, “O Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands? Were you arrogant [then], or were you [already] among the haughty?” (Iblis) said: “I am better than him, You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.”

What did he say?

“I am better than him”.

Sometimes we don’t need to say that word aloud, “Huh I’m better than him.” It could be our attitude, our face expression at that moment that shows we think we are better than the other person.

This is serious. It was even mentioned twice in the Quran.

We have to understand for the fact that, everything that we have belong to Allah.

It could be that we are extraterrestrial confident. People called us up to give a speech, we don’t need any preparation. Words just coming out from our mouth and people get impressed by it. But what happened if Allah decides that on that moment, we suddenly stutter?

Innalillah. (Meaning: Indeed we belong to Allah). Our confidence belong to Allah. Our tongue belong to Allah. And He could take it anytime He wants. We should be grateful with it. Not looking down at a confident-struggling-person.

It could be that we are good at Math. All test seem to be easy. 98% 100%, easy, piece of cake. But remember, we are good at it, not because we are smart. It because Allah makes it easy for us. Imagine all of a sudden Allah decides we become blank during the exam. Innalillah. Indeed we belong to Allah. The ability to handle Math easily belongs to Allah.

Or it could be that after graduating from university, you got a job and got married. Easy. You don’t have to struggle at all to get a job, or finding a spouse to get married with. These are all from Allah, Allah is the One that makes it easy for you. But there’s other person who went to an interview, after interviews, after interviews but still couldn’t get a job. Or another person who hasn’t got married, still waiting and looking for a life-partner. You can’t look down at these people.

On one hand, [1] we should be grateful with whatever ability Allah has given us. On the other hand, [2] we should never look down upon other people who are struggling with something we are good at, or something that we got it easily.

Abu Hurairah said, The Messenger of Allah said,

“It is enough evil for a Muslim to look down upon his (Muslim) brother.” [Muslim]